The monarch of Ekpeye Kingdom Eze FLT, LT. Robinson .O.Robinson (Rtd) CON JP Eze Ekpeye Logbo II of Ekpeye Kingdom has expressed shock on hearing that his Kingdom is rated third in the high rate of HIV/AIDS infected communities in the state.
The news was brokered to King when members of Rivers State Agency for the Control of AIDS held advocacy meeting on HIV/AIDS in his domain.
In his speech, the Eze Ekpeye Logbo said that he heard this odd news first when the team visited his palace and the palace was not comfortable with it, hence he put off the discussion of the day and asked them to repeat their trip to the Kingdom on a scheduled date, that he will gather the members of his council of chiefs, women and youths leaders, as well as possible people who could hear with him for an action to be taken to check the spread of the disease.
The king who took pity on the younger generation, told news men that having discovered that traditional norms have been forsaken, especially respect for elders by the youths, as such boys and girls seen romancing themselves in Corners but elders over looking such without warning must stop in the Kingdom.
He further blamed those selling intoxicated drugs like Indian hemp, tipsy drinks such after they have taken, they must see themselves high listen to their elders, shall be checked and discouraged.
Eze Robbinson assured the visiting team that every village in the Kingdom shall select team members who will be working at the grassroot and that their names shall be forwarded to the Control of AIDS office and lauded the team for coming.
The Executive Director for Agency for Control of AIDS, Dr Chimezie Okeh in a lecture to the people pointed out that Ekpeye is rated third highly infected HIV/AIDS in the state explaining that HIV burden in Ahoada has 3166 current number of people on ART and 76 new cases average monthly who enroll for treatment in Ahoada General Hospital.
Dr. Okeh said that the epidemic is on the increase in Ekpeye kingdom and Rivers State due to low condom usage by the people, eroding cultural values as youths disregard parents and guidance in behavioral lifestyles, poverty, high rate of youth unemployment, use of intoxicant like alcohol, Indian hemp, low HCT uptake and stigma and discrimination in place.
He blamed multiple sex partner relationship, casual sex, marital infidelity, and is bound to be sick without and patronage of prostitutes high number of brothels, early outset of sexual and decreasing age of virginity and misconception that if a male blood in her.
He emphasized strategic priorities for communities as prevention of new infection, stigma reduction and community leadership adding that if all work together, the HIV/AIDS problem in Ekpeye Kingdom can be solved. ####
